Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ThingsComeAround]

Morning Star sure comes off as an unqualified loser...
Cocky, too. No response about how fantastic his/her class is

Sometimes I'd like to bring an axe to school just to chop my co-teacher up in little bits. I really mean it. She has no clue what teaching means.
Her idea of a "test" is to give four questions and make them so easy, all the children get 100%. And the kids still cheat, because they could care less. Does she punish them? No. Just re-test them

I ask myself if I can really live in Korea, going through the motions, but it is a paycheck. Maybe that makes me an @$$hole, but at least I am a paid @$$hole. Money is important. Can't live without it. OP, hang in there, and re-sign with your school. Maybe your idiot coteacher will die in a fiery car crash with mine, and we can have new, cool, newbie co-teachers that do as we say

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Dude, if you're happy enough going throough the motions and getting paid for it and everyone is fine with letting that happpen - don't sweat it!

It is only when either

1. You come to want more

or

2. Employer won't put up wiith / coondone it / wants something else (although it seems this IS WHAT THEY WANT from you... and I've been there too...)

3. You find a preferred alternative, of which the positives (eg hours, fullfilment, salary etc) outweigh those of the current situation.

That it becomes a negative thing.

[the oak llama]

You are not going to be able to change their curriculum / philosophy or the systems they have in place.

If you want to bring your own materials in and make your own lessons then ask them if you can teach an after school class. You will be paid extra. Kids that want to learn will show up. You will feel like you are accomplishing something I promise.

Korean kids are idiots? How is your Korean? idiot.

[withnail]

One of the great skills you have practice when teaching in Korea is not to get angry when this sort of thing happens. Smile pleasantly, say"O.K." and continue your own sweet way.

The problem comes when you run away in your imagination about what they think of you and how unfair that is and how dare they say that etc,etc.

Don't pay it no mind!

Are you teaching the Elementary level? If so you're not concerned with teaching them to speak English. I'm sorry but you're not!

They want you to have fun! Play vocabulary games. Use powerpoint. Sing songs.

You'll find a lot of fun and simple stuff on the website EFL Classroom 2.0.

Think games, songs and fun activities! Think vocabulary not grammar at this low age!!

Don't worry that they don't seem to remember stuff. You're just planting seeds, getting them used to interacting with a foreigner etc. You are doing a lot of good!!

True, you might not be getting the pay-off you need in terms of clear learning on the part of the students. Get used to that and then when your contract ends go for another position.

Chin up!

[jvalmer]

[Azby]

You don't know how lucky you are. At least you don't have to teach with a freakin' English Hitler teacher, like I did, who also wanted to know what everything was in French!

[Draz]

[UrbanStyle]

to the OP- you must have some unmotivated kids or not teaching correctly, my elementary kids were brilliant and learned a lot, and can converse with me really well. there are the rare few who don't give a damn and wont try and wont learn, but most will learn a lot and you'll see it overtime.

[smoggy]

Is the US system so much better? I don't think so. As a substitute that worked daily for 6.5 years in AZ, until the economy tanked, I say no. The schools are under budgeted or without budget. The budget is supposed to be set by July, but in Az we still don't have one, and its November. The schools thought that they were getting the money that they need, yet they might get 10 million less, and next year...

I agree that most don't want to take English, but they do it as they are required to by the govt.

[andrewchon]

Draz:

+1

[Fishead soup]

Find out who the students are who are interested in English and try to speak to them in English as much as possible outside of class. This will give you greater respect from the English staff. Also help them with their speach contests, skits and Foreign High school applications. Help one students as a time. The big classes are for the birds. You can either go for the drill Sergent Audio Lingual Approach, or the Game show host approach. Either way your Co-Teacher would have liked it much better if you had used the another approach

[some waygug-in]

I don't think it's a money issue, at least not in the PS system, it's an attitude problem.

Yes, the students can learn faster, better with less discipline issues if and when the K-teachers back off and ...

LET THE FOREIGN TEACHER TEACH!!!!

Even the worst wayguk saram untrained wannabee like me (for example)
could get better results than the K-staff is getting.

What point is there in having the class 80% or more in Korean?

I have 2 co-teachers currently; one allows me to be the teacher for 20 mins out of the 40 minute class, the other wants me to stand by while she wraps on endlessly in Korean.

Which classes do you suppose are learning more?

[winterfall]

[ardis]

^ I agree. Elementary school kids are a world away from middle and high schoolers. Suddenly worried about their images, they are less likely to be enthusiastic if they know it's not the "cool thing" and it can definitely be hard to make English the "cool thing."

[Fishead soup]

Get with the program. This isn't rocket Science

Listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat listen repeat.
Now fill in the blanks.